Draft rigging



Dec. 19, 1933.

D. s. BARRovys DRAFT RIGGING Filed July 3, 1928 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 DRAFT RIGGING Donald s. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application July 3, 1928. Serial No. 290,060

10 Claims.

'This inventionrelates to railway draft rigging and more particularly to mechanism for operatively connecting the coupler and yoke while permitting'angling therebetween, both horizontally I and vertically.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a swivel butt coupler, or one adapted to angle horizontally and so modified that it is also adapted to angle vertically, both upon the application of draft and buffing forces. v t

Another object ofmy invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler adapted to angle vertically on .draft about the connecting key and also formed to angle verticaly on buff with provision for full contact between the rear face thereof and the associated front follower or cushioning mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler stem having a swivel block, the rear face of which is cylindrical about a horizontal axis for vertical angling on buff.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of railway draft rigging in which a swivel butt coupler is connected to an associated yoke by a horizontal key permitting vertical angling of said coupler upon the application of draft forces, vertical angling thereof upon the application of buffing forces being permitted by forming the rear face of the coupler butt convex and preferably cylindrical about a horizontal axis, the front face of the associated front follower or cushioning mechanism being either concave to correspond with the convex curvature of the coupler butt or flat for permitting rocking or swiveling of the butt thereon, and if fiat, the butt of the'coupler may be alternatively formed with a adapted to angle vertically with respect to said butt and interlock therewith for holding it in place. r Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangementand construction of the various parts will become apparcut as the description proceeds. V Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention,the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of draft rigging embodying my invention.

Figure '2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figure l, but showing amodification, a portion of the coupler butt and associated shim beingshown in horizontal section.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before describing my invention in detail, it might be well to explain that the usual form of swivel butt coupler is particularly adapted for permitting the coupler to angle horizontally or about a vertical axis. Upon the application of draft forces to the coupler, said coupler angles from side to side on the vertical pinconnecting the rear of the stem proper with the swivel block, said block maintaining full contact on the horizontal draft key. Vertical angling is also'permitted under draft-with full contact on the horizontal key, the rounded edge of the latter functioning as a horizontal pin with the assistance of the slot clearance in the coupler and yoke.

Upon the application of buffing forces the coupler angles horizontally'and maintains full contact between the shank loops and butt pockets, because these elements are concentric with the vertical connecting pin. Vertical angling of the coupler, however, causes a making of the butt against the front follower or front face of the cushioning mechanism with no special provision for full contact between the rear face of the butt or swivel block and the front face of the front follower or cushioning mechanism. The invention to be described hereinafter in detail provides for such contact and facilitates vertical angling of the coupler on buff.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, portions of railway draft rigging are illustrated involving the stem 1 of a coupler, the rear end of which is pivotally connected with respect to a rear member swivel block or butt 2, by means of a vertical pin or pintle 3 passingthrough intercalated webs or flanges 4 on the coupler stem and 5 on the swivel block. The construction of the rear endof the stem 1 and the swivel block 2 may correspond generally with the swivel butt coupler described and claimed in my Patent #1,431,'71'7, dated October 10, 1922. The intermediate web or flange 5 of the swivel block "2 and the adjacent portion'of the 'stem 1 of the coupler are formed with supplementary portions of a slot 6 adapted to receive an associated horizontal draft key 7 which extends through corresponding slots 8 in the arms of the associated yoke 9 and into corresponding slots in the associated draft sills and cheek plates (not shown) in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The pin 3 is preferably so positioned that it is partially cut through by the key '7, said key thereby functioning to maintain the pin in proper position with respect to the coupler and swivel block. In order to hold the parts in assembled position independent of the key 7, however, said pin is desirably locked with respect to the swivel block in any desired manner, as by means of a shoulder 10 formed adjacent the bottom end of the pin engaging the lower flange or web 5 of the swivel block and a lip or tang portion 11 preferably cut away from the pin 3 as by means of a saw cut 12 and spread after positioning of the pin, as illustrated in Figure 2, to prevent upward movement thereof.

As is customary in draft rigging of the character illustrated, a second key 13 is provided to the rear of the key 7, which extends through the slot 14 in the front follower or front member 15 of associated cushioning mechanism, through registering slots 16 in the arms of the yoke 9 and on into corresponding slots in the draft sills and associated cheek plates (not shown) in a manner well understood, said key functioning to retain the front follower in proper position and transmit draft forces therefrom to the cheek plates and sills of the car. Rearwardly of the front follower 15, the cushioning element or draft gear 17 of the mechanism, of any desired character, indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines, may be provided.

The pin 3 permits horizontal angling between the coupler and swivel block on draft, which thereby also permits such angling between the coupler and associated draft rigging, as will be understood, asv described in detail in my Patent #1,43l,7l7, previously referred to. Horizontal angling of the coupler upon the application of buffing forces is permitted between the correspondingly curved rear edges of the shank loops or flanges 4 and the butt pockets between the flanges 5 of the swivel block, such bufling forces being thereby taken off the pin 3. Upon the application of draft forces vertical angling of the coupler is permitted, due to clearance between the key 7 and the slots in the coupler, swivel block and yoke, said coupler angling about the rear curved edge of the key or the key angling about its front curved edge with respect to the yoke, or both, thereby permitting the required angling of the coupler with respect to the draft rigging and associated car. In order to permit such vertical angling of the coupler upon the application of buffing forces the rear face of the swivel block or butt 2 is crowned or curved, as indicated at 18, said curvature being preferably cylindrical about a horizontal axis, the center of said axis being desirably at any point on the key 7 but as near the back as possible in order to keep the radius short, the radius, however, being sufficiently long so as not to interfere with the structure of the butt and coupler for permitting z" the horizontal angling previously referred to.

The front face of the associated front follower 15, is preferably concavely curved to correspond and mate with the-curved portion 18, as indicated at 19, whereby full bearing contact is provided between coupler and follower or cushioning mechanism, as illustrated If, however, full bearing contact is not necessary, the front face of the follower or cushioning mechanism may be flat, as illustrated for example in Figures 3 and 4. r

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a construction is there disclosed which is very similar to that of the first embodiment, the coupler stem 1 being connected to the swivel block or butt portion 2 however, by a plurality of pins 3* extending through corresponding apertures in the intercalated flanges or webs 4 of the coupler stem and 5 on the swivel block or butt. On account of the construction of the rear face of the swivel butt or block 2 the pins are desirably positioned so that they are disposed entirely above and below the key '7 connecting the coupler to the associated yoke 9 said pins being preferably retained in place in a manner described and claimed in the Casey application, Serial Number 272,312, filed April 23, 1928, that is, the ends of said pins 3 extending beyond the flanges 5 on the swivel block are desirably formed with peripheral grooves 20 engaged by rivets or cotters 21 extending through preferably integral lugs 22 on the upper and lower faces of the swivel block orbutt 2 In the present embodiment the rear face of the swivel block or butt 2" is curved, as indicated at 18, in a manner corresponding with that of the first embodiment. Attached to said swivel block, in accordance with the present embodiment, is a shim 23, the front face of which is concavely curved, as indicated at 19 to correspond with the convexly curved rear face 18 of the swivel block 2 and the rear face of which is preferably flat to engage the flat forward face of the associated front follower 15*. In order to retain the shim 23 in place it is desirably interlocked with respect to the swivel block or butt of the coupler, as by means of tongues 24 with inwardly extending lugs 25 received in corresponding pockets 26 in the sides of the swivel block, the clearance between said tongues and pockets being sufficient to permit the desired vertical angling between the swivel block and the shim, said tongues being preferably bendable so that they may be applied when bent outwardly to the position indicated in dot dash lines and after assembly with the swivel block, bent inwardly into interlocking engagement therewith. As in the previous embodiment the front follower 15 is retained in position by means of a rear key 13 extending throughcorresponding slots in the follower and yoke and on into slots in the associated draft sills and cheek plates (not shown), the rear face of said follower abutting against the front of a draft gear or cushioning mechanism 17 indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have modified a swivel butt coupler construction so that the coupler is permitted to angle in all directions with respect to the associated yoke and draft rigging while maintaining full bearing area between the butt thereof and the associated front follower or cushioning mechanism. Although I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that I ,do not wish to be limited to such construction, as, if desired, modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A coupler with a stem and a rear member articulated with respect to saidstem, the rear surface of the rear member being cylindrical about a horizontal axis, a shim associated with said member and provided with an engaged surface correspondingly curved for permitting V61: 1150 tical angling of the coupler on buff and means for holding said shim in operative position.

2. A coupler stem comprising intermeshing pivotally connected members provided with a transversely extending coupler key receiving slot formed in part in each of said members, the rear face of the rear member being curved about a horizontal axis, a shim with the engaging surface correspondingly curved, and means interlocking said shim and rear member, the rear face of said shim being adapted to engage cushioning mechanism.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a yoke, a swivel butt coupler, a key extending through the swiveled parts of the couplerfor connecting said coupler and yoke, the rear face of the rear part of said coupler being convexly curved about a horizontal axis, and shim means connected thereto and presenting a correspondingly concavely curved surface for permitting vertical angling of the coupler on buff with respect to associated cushioning mechanism, said key having suflicient clearance for permitting vertical angling of the coupler upon the applica tion of draft forces.

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a yoke, a swivel butt coupler comprising a plurality of pin-connected members, transversely extending means connecting the rear one of said members to said yoke member and received in slots partially formed in each of said pinconnected members, said rear member having its rear face convexly curved about a horizontal axis, and an auxiliary member connected to said rear member for swiveling about said curved face for permitting vertical angling of the coupler on buff.

5. A coupler formed with a stem the rear face of which is curved continuously about a horizontal axis for the full height thereof, a shim with an engaging surface correspondingly curved, and means interlocking said shim and stem while permitting limited swiveling therebetween.

6. In combination with a coupler stem, a butt member pivotally connected thereto for horizontal angling, the rear face of said butt member being convexly curved about a horizontal axis, and a shim associated with said member and formed with a correspondingly curved concave surface normally disposed in engagement with said convex surface, said shim having a pair of tongues formed with inwardly extending lugs, said butt portion being provided with pockets receiving said lugs, clearance being provided in said pockets for permitting a limited swiveling movement between said shim and butt member.

'7. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a horizontal yoke, a coupler stem comprising a plurality of members adapted torotate with respect to one another about a normally vertical axis, transversely extending means connecting said stem to said yoke, a follower disposed between the arms of said yoke adjacent said coupler stem, the rearmost of said stem members having its rear face convexly curved about a horizontal axis, a shim disposed between said curved face and the front face of said follower, the face of said shim adjacent said curved face being curved about a corresponding axis for permitting swiveling of said coupler stem with respect to said shim, and means interlocking said shim with respect to one of the members between which it is disposed.

8. A coupler stem comprising intermeshing pivotally connected members, a shim associated with the rear member and provided with a surface curved about a horizontal axis for permitting vertical angling of said stem, and means interlocking said shim and rear member, the rear face of said shim being adapted to transmit buffing forces to associated cushioning mechanism.

9. A coupler with a stem comprising intermeshing pivotally connected members to allow for angling therebetween in a horizontal plane, the rearmost of said members having a rear face cylindrically curved about a horizontal axis, in combination with an auxiliary member associated with the rearmost of said pivotally connected members and provided with a surface curved to correspond with the rear surface of said rearmost member for permitting vertical swiveling of said stem with respect thereto, and means connecting said auxiliary member to said rear member, the rear face of said auxiliary member being adapted to transmit bufiing forces from the coupler to associated cushioning mechamsm.

10. In combination with a coupler stem comprising intermeshing members pivotally connected to permit angling therebetween, an auxiliary member connected to the rearmost of said members for angling with respect thereto in a plane positioned at an angle to the plane of angling of said pivotally connected members, said auxiliary member and the rearmost of said pivotally con-- nected members having adjacent interfitting cylindrical faces correspondingly curved to permit said angling, said auxiliary member being adapted to transmit buffing forces to associated cushioning mechanism.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

